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Solicitors working phones for scam purchases at Lab

Phone solicitors utilizing deceptive sales practices recently contacted Laboratory staff members in an effort to sell office products, such as copier toner and printer cartridges.

The solicitors may utilize tactics, such as calling and asking for the make and model of a copier so they can ship toner supply, or they may indicate that another Lab group "cancelled an order," but the vendor needs to sell the items since they are ready to ship, so they'll provide an "additional discount" if the person will accept the order, according to Warren Finch of Procurement (SUP-9).

Another tactic is the solicitor may fax an information sheet to a Lab employee and ask [the employee] to submit information on a copier or printer. They will then use the information to try and sell a product or actually ship a product to the Lab organization and request payment, said Finch.

"By placing or accepting an order without a Laboratory-issued purchase order or subcontract already being in place with the vendor, or if it is an unauthorized purchase card transaction, the employee violates Laboratory procurement policy," he said. "The employee could ultimately be held responsible for the cost of the goods or services," Finch said.

Finch said another problem is the prices for the products these solicitors are trying to sell is often substantially higher than what can be obtained through approved Laboratory sources, such as Just-In-Time contracts.

"Laboratory employees should never commit to purchase any goods or services as the result of a phone solicitation or without having utilized the proper Lab procurement process and channels," Finch added.

For more information, contact the Procurement Assistance Center at 6-0772 or write to mypac@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

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